Boat propulsion device



sept. 2s, 1943.

R, R. BooN Y BOAT ROPULSION DEVICE Filed April 2, 194s.

fibre/:Mms

Patented Sept. 28, 1943 i i-Jui'riii) STAT This invention relates to a manually operated.

boat propulsion device, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will permit a person to propel a boat with a minimum amountY of effort and with theusual boat between' the gears-and thedseat Bforlmunii `versallmovement,rball and socket joints or simirowing motion, employing both the hands andV feet for the operation of the device, thus rendering the propulsion of the bcatless fatiguing to said person and alsogallow the person to face in the direction the boat travels which greatly assists the person in keeping the boat on a desired course.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a fragmentarytop plan view illustrating a portion of a boat equipped with a propulsion device constructed in accordance with my invention. l

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing a portion of the boat with the invention adapted thereto.

Figure 3 is a side elevation illustrating one of the gears of the device equipped with a crank handle.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral indicates a fragmentary portion of a small type boat, 6 one of the seats of the boat on which the person sits to propel the boat.

Shafts 'l are journaled at opposite sides of the boat, suitable bearings 8 being mounted in the sides of the boat for the support of said shafts. The outer ends of the shafts have secured thereto blades 9. The blades of each shaft are integrally connected by a hub portion I0 secured on the shaft and in the form of a counter-weight. The

blades of each shaft are arranged in divergingv relation. Suitable guards II are mounted kon the sides of the boat and overlie the bladesto prevent the blades from being interfered with and also to prevent any splashing of water created by the blades from reaching the interior of the boat cr the occupant thereof.

The inner ends of the shafts 'i have secured thereto gears I2 which mesh with gears II journaled on brackets I3 secured tothe sides of the boat and on the inner faces of said sides.` The gears I2 are arranged below the gears II'.

Handles I4 are mounted on the sides of the lar inountings I5 being providedfor the mountving of the ihandleson the boat. The adjacent ends kof the handles arein the vvform' of hand grips .I6 to 4be graspedby a personseated ongthe z seatj facingin thendirection ofthe bow ofathe vboat..l .f V

Y r Pitmans Il L havefballrv'andf socket connections with the gears II and with the `handles I4` Thev pitmans I'I are eccentrically mounted on the gears I I. The handles I6 will permit the person occupying the seat 6 to operate the blades 9 with a rowing motion While facing the front 0f thel boat.

Brackets I8 are arranged on the bottom of the boat forwardly of the gears and seat 6 and have pivotally mounted thereon foot levers I9. The foot levers I 9 are pivoted intermediate their ends on the brackets I8, and their outer ends are connected to pitmans 2U which are in turn eccentrically connected to the gears I2. Ball and socket joints are employed for connecting the pitmans 20 to the gears I2 as well as t0 the foot levers I9. The adjacent ends or inner ends of the foot levers have pivctally mounted thereon person move forwardly shoving on the foot racks,

which imparts motion to the foot levers and they in turn bring about rotation cf the `gears I2, the latter being in mesh with the gears II' assist in rotating the blades 9.

The links connected to the brackets I8 and the' Shanks of the foot racks will cause the feet- 'vengaging portions 22 to travel in a straight path parallel to the sides of the boat While thel foot levers I9 swing on their pivots. This will allow the person to maintain the legs inl substantially parallel relation with a forward and rearward motionto the legs and feet which is a customary` motion of the legs while a Aperson is rowing.

A device 0f the character described and shown in the drawing, will allow a person seated in the boat to propel the boat with the usual rowing motion employing both the arms and legs. Thus the person can propel the boat with a minimum amount of eifort and have clear vewforwardly of the boat permitting the person to reasily keep the boat on a desired course.

Boats which have extremely narrow beams may have applied to the gears Il' thereof crank handles 25 in lieu of the handles I4 and the pitmans l1. It will be understood that when the crank handles 25 are employed, the hands and arms of the person areA employed in imparting a rotary motion to the crank handles.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention claimed. 1

Having thus described my invention,I what I claim is: A

1. In a boat propulsion device, shafts journaled in opposite sides of a boat, blades secured to" in opposite sides of a boat, blades secured to said shafts, gears secured to said shafts, handles mounted for universal movement on the sides of the boat adjacent said gears, pitmans having universal connection with the handles and with the gears, gears journaled on the sides of the boat meshing with the first-named gears, foot levers pivotally mounted on the boat, pitmans connecting the foot levers to the second-named gears, foot racks pivotally mounted on the levers, connecting links betvven the foot levers and the boat to cause the foot racks to travel in a straight path and parallel to each other during the pivotal movement of the levers.

3. In a boat propulsion device, shafts journaled in opposite sides of a boat, Weighted hubs secured to lsaid shafts, diverging blades formed on said hubs, gears secured to said shafts, pitmans c'tally' mounted'on the levers, andconncting links and the brackets.

between the fot racks ROBERT R, BOON. 

